History Main / SocialClimber

* Main motivation for ''GossipGirl''s Dan Humphrey, though he spends a large part of the series vehemently denying it and even shaming others who do the same. His sister Jenny is a more honest about it example of this trope.

* ''Literature/AnAmericanTragedy'' by Theodore Dreiser was an attempt to take this trope from its European setting and transplant it to American society, to show that it was NotSoDifferent.

* Main motivation for ''GossipGirl''s Dan Humphrey, though he spends a large part of the series vehemently denying it and even shaming others who do the same.

Compare NouveauRiche, RagsToRiches, SelfMadeMan and WorkingClassHero. A Social Climber may also be a MilesGloriosus in order to warm himself to his intended circle. A school-age SocialClimber would want to be InWithTheInCrowd. Note, however, that a SocialClimber is not ''always'' a bad person, there are those who are genuinely good people who just happen to have ambition. That doesn't stop fiction from portraying [[AmbitionIsEvil ambition as evil]] fairly often. Though it must be noted that this trope when used is generally about the person wanting to leave his past and feeling ashamed of his roots, whereas a WorkingClassHero traditionally embraces and is defined by his roots.

Compare NouveauRiche, RagsToRiches, SelfMadeMan. A Social Climber may also be a MilesGloriosus in order to warm himself to his intended circle. A school-age SocialClimber would want to be InWithTheInCrowd. Note, however, that a SocialClimber is not ''always'' a bad person, there are those who are genuinely good people who just happen to have ambition. That doesn't stop fiction from portraying [[AmbitionIsEvil ambition as evil]] fairly often.

%% * Archibald Snatcher from ''WesternAnimation/TheBoxtrolls''.

%% * The entire motivation for Archibald Snatcher's schemes in ''WesternAnimation/TheBoxtrolls''.

* Mai's parents in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' seem to be a Butt-Kisser version. Their desire to advance in Fire Nation society leads them to force Mai into a submissive and meek persona when around others, and represses her emotions, so that others will think well of the family.

* ''WebComic/MagickChicks'': This is [[EvilRedhead Cerise]] in a nutshell. From the moment the Hellrune Coven was transferred to [[AllGirlSchool Artemis Academy]], she plotted [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/you_had_that_look to overthrow Melissa]], by rising to the top of the school's social ladder before Melissa could. She even went so far as to [[spoiler: [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/a_good_second_banana pretend to have feelings for Callista]]]]; thus, using [[spoiler: Callista's]] popularity to gain recognition for herself. But once she gained the power of [[spoiler: Hecate's dark essence]], she no longer needed Callista and simply decided to take over the school. Her first order of business was to [[spoiler: get rid of her, [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/girls_who_resisted along with the rest of the student council]]]].

* '''The Backstabber''': Narcissistic and jealous, The Backstabber is highly likely to become your friend and then spread rumors about your own ineptitude, in part to make yourself feel worse and to make himself feel better. They're also highly likely to take your work for their own in order to pass themself off as better to the rest of society.

* MagickChicks: This is [[EvilRedhead Cerise]] in a nutshell. From the moment the Hellrune Coven gets transferred to [[AllGirlSchool Artemis Academy]], she plots ways [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/you_had_that_look to overthrow Melissa]], by raising to the top of the school's social ladder before Melissa can. Her latest scheme involves pretending to date [[spoiler: [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/a_good_second_banana Callista]]]]; thus, using [[spoiler: Callista's]] popularity to gain recognition for herself.

* Heather from ''Literature/Speak''. She had no problems with dumping Melinda who, by the way, was struggling with her inner demons and trying to rebound from her [[spoiler:traumatic experience over the summer]], and abandoning her for a group of cool girls. To make it worse, she expected Melinda to help her out when she needed help the most. She does get chewed out by Melinda, which she deserved after her treatment towards her.

* Heather from ''Main/Speak''. She had no problems with dumping Melinda who, by the way, was struggling with her inner demons and trying to rebound from her [[spoiler:traumatic experience over the summer]], and abandoning her for a group of cool girls. To make it worse, she expected Melinda to help her out when she needed help the most. She does get chewed out by Melinda, which she deserved after her treatment towards her.

* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', Rarity, who is a tailor and fashion designer, has this mentality; she aspires to be "a lady" and become popular in the higher spheres of society. Not through any unsavory means, but through her merits as an artist and person of good taste. She doesn't notice it, but the show proves to us that it's really much more of a matter of connections rather than genuine talent.

--> '''Kate [=McGowan=],''' ''Titanic''

* Kitty Packard in the 1933 film ''Dinner at Eight''. She pesters her husband Dan about attending the movie's titular dinner party, which is expected to include the aristocrats Lord and Lady Ferncliffe among the guests. It could be argued that the hostess of the dinner, Millicent Jordan, is also engaging in this by having the party. The Ferncliffes are members of the English aristocracy, while the Jordans own a shipping company (and the Packards' money is newer yet).

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': [[{{Deuteragonist}} Griffith]]'s dream is to become the king of Midland even though [[RagsToRoyalty he was born a commoner]]. He starts as a leader of the Band of the Hawk, [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores a small band of mercenaries]], and earns himself fame as a great military leader in the ongoing One Hundred Years War. Eventually he gets [[{{Knighting}} knighted]] and after he's led the Band of the Hawk into a war-deciding victory agains the Castle of Doldrey his mercenaries are given the title of "White", the highest possible honor an army can be granted. After the war has ended, however, Griffith can't climb any higher by military merits alone. His last plan is to marry [[PrincessClassic princess Charlotte]] so he would eventually inherit the throne. [[spoiler:In the end, the fact how close to succeeding Griffith gets only serves to make his fate that much more tragic. [[BreakTheHaughty Griffith loses all that he has gained]] and [[DealWithADevil sacrifices his men]] in a [[DespairEventHorizon desperate attempt]] to salvage what has been lost]].

* Suzaku Kururugi from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' is an Idealist, who seeks to rise up the ranks of Britannian society to change it for the better.

* Rastignac from Honore De Balzac's LaComedieHumaine is such a climber that his name has become synonymous with the trope in the French language. He's not especially dishonourable compared to others around him, though, and he makes mistakes and has setbacks. By the end of the series, he makes it to Minister.

Compare NouveauRiche, RagsToRiches, SelfMadeMan. A Social Climber may also be a MilesGloriosus in order to warm himself to his intended circle. Note, however, that a SocialClimber is not ''always'' a bad person, there are those who are genuinely good people who just happen to have ambition. That doesn't stop fiction from portraying [[AmbitionIsEvil ambition as evil]] fairly often.

* '''[[WideEyedIdealist The Idealist]]''': Generally a more benevolent type (at least at first), the this kind of social climber wants to make it into the elite to change the world, and at first, they try the more honorable ways of gathering prestige, such as heroism for glory's sake; however, to be a successful social climber, the Idealist has to resort to underhanded tactics and dubious schemes, and make compromises with his conscience. Usually, when the Idealist finally makes it to the top, he has already abandoned his morals for one reason or another and becomes one of the other types.